The sun is setting over the nearby town of Sephorial, a small settlement located on the west side of Belgoraga. I look down at it from the top of the mountain where our base is hidden. After having my fill of the view, I grab my wings to stretch them outwards, then glide down through an opening into the mountain.

When I land, I watch through a Third-Age dwarven hall inspired by First Age Roman basilicas. The hall has collaped in, sure, but the craftsmanship still shows. The lighting is pretty bad, but we dragons are used to it. I walk over to the wooden table and chair I frequent whenever I fly in. I sit down, then pick up the handmade doll I treasure so much. I move her arms around, thinking to myself.

(Soon. Everything will happen soon. And yet...)

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!

A strong gust of wind blows in.

Or rather, a fast moving cloud of vapor.

The vapor solidifies...

Showing Hunter, naked.

"You're back!" I yell. "How'd it...?"

"It's gone..." she says. And not in her "cruel" voice, either.

"Huh? And what happened to your..."

"IT'S FINALLY GONE!!" she yells, hugging me.

"Whoa! At least put some clothes on!"

"The voice in my head is finally gone!" she says happily.

"What do you mean?"

"Before Apis was killed, I removed my snake self from the main body via vaporization. Apis is dead, and I'm free once more! I'm free! I'm finally free!!"

(Guess that explains the lack of clothes, since she "left behind" her body.)

"That's...splendid news!" I say, hugging her back. "Good riddance!"

"I'll say!"

"Can you still turn into a hydra?"

"Actually...I don't think so. But that's a small price to pay!"

( a voice says in my head.

"Oh. Hey Ceri!" Hunter, or perhaps "Riva", says happily.

( Ceri, or rather "Cerimon", tells us telepathically through his subtone. What is it with him and Shakespearean phraseology?

"What's wrong?" Riva asks, walking towards him. "That unlikeable side of me is finally gone! I thought you'd be happy."

I can see his silhouette in the darkness. While his flamboyant clothes are just like him, he seems to be dawning a "darkness tone look" today.

(

"You mean you 'abhored' Apis."

(

"I don't wish to hear this philosophy again, Ceri." I say.

(

"I don't know yet." Riva says. "I still want to help, but my days as a fighter are numbered."

With lightning speed, Ceri moves over to Hunter and grabs her face in the palm of his hand.

(

BBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!

"CERI, STOP!!!"

I inhale to prepare to blow fire...

But it's too late.

With her screams drowned out by obnoxious buzzing, Riva is murdered before my eyes.

"Fire Drive: Drake Breath!"

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I blow Ceri into the wall, burning much of the source of the buzzing. As Ceri's body burns, giving off the disgusting odor of burning flesh, I rush over to Riva. Her body is barely recognizable, much of it eaten away.

( Ceri tells me. (

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO HER!?!?"

(

"Why I oughta!!"

I begin to prepare another Drake Breath. Ceri lifts up both arms, preparing his attack.

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until we are interrupted by a railgun shot.

"Stop fighting, will you!?" a girl's voice, Vivien's voice, yells across the corridor, ducking under a fallen pillar.

"Didn't you see what he...!?"

"Girls, girls, you're both pretty." she continues. "Now will you stop...RIVA!!!"

She runs over to Riva's body, checking for a pulse. She charges electricity into her hands, then presses them against Riva's chest, attempting to resuscitate her.

"Come on, girl! Stay with me! Stay with me!"

With every word, her voice chokes up more and more.

"Enough!" a gruff man's voice is heard from other end of the collidor. In that instant, the fallen pillar parts are lifted up and tossed behind the tall, buff darkness tone that is Timorus, his beard slightly noticeable.

And right in front of him is our leader, Besuro.

Vivien looks at them, the stops trying to save Riva. She walks over to Besuro, weeping through her one eye not covered in bandages, then burying her face in his chest.

"It's not fair, father. Why?"

Besuro hugs her, then turns his head to Ceri.

"That wasn't necessary, and you know it."

(

"You forget the cause is meant to save lives, not take them."

(

I can't see it clearly, but I can tell Besuro is glaring at Ceri.

(

"Your mindset is nothing short of arrogant. If it weren't for our shared motives and your strength and wisdom, I wouldn't have agreed to let you join us."

"His 'arrogance' is simply a lack of fear." Timorus says. "And lack of fear is what we need! To overcome fear is to overcome all obstacles! To conquer fear is to...!"

"Sensei, enough." Besuro says.

Besuro lets go of Vivien, walks over to Riva, takes off his full body cloak, covers her with it, and picks up her corpse.

"Riva, I will honor your final wish." he says.

"So...what now?" I ask.

"First, I will follow through with Riva's last will and testament. What funds we don't need will be donated to charity to repair Terraz and New Vegas."

We look at Ceri, waiting to see if he will contest the plan. However, he turns away, avoiding an argument.

"Second, we will hold a proper burial for our comrade in arms. We owe her that much."

He turns around and walks further down the corridor.

"And Cerimon, you will begin the next stage of our plan immediately."

(

"You have one month at most to prepare."

(

"Consider this your punishment for murdering an ally."

I personally find Besuro to be too lenient with Ceri.

"Is there anything you want to report?" Besuro asks.

(

"Go on." Besuro says.

(

(An illusion tone?) the rest of us think simultaneously.

(